Earlier this month I visited Elda, the Mission’s beautiful new cocktail bar on 16th Street exuding Caribbean and Latin influences. It was my goal to get the recap done before the end of the month – low and behold, here we are. Two of us arrived around 6:30pm on a Friday, entering a loud and crowded space. We sat at the only two seats open on a narrow bar facing a wall, as all of the tables were taken. Chef Jose Flores took our order personally – casually and quickly. As we were waiting, a table opened up and we were lucky enough to swoop in, as it is first come first served. The restaurant was vibrant, with the flow moving quickly, full of energy. Below are the items we ordered:

Cocktails:

Hot Stepper | rye, grapefruit, spicy honey, ipa
Pink Flamingo | oaxacan rum, lime, tiki-tivo, pineapple, absinthe
Presidente #44 | pineapple rum, brandy, two vermouths

Food:

Coachella Yellow Corn w/ Basil Mayo & Quinoa | The quinoa added an interesting ‘pop’ on the surface which made it a fun experience. It was delicious, crunch, and perfectly seasoned.
Milk Bread Fried Chicken Sandwich w/ Chamoy | This was a great play on textures with the milk bread and perfectly fried chicken. The special red sauce which added a nice touch. It included avocado which wasn’t mentioned on the menu – what if you were allergic to avocado? What if you didn’t like avocado? It’s a high-priced ingredient!
Jamaican Beef Patty w/ Plantain Dip | This was the dish we liked the least. It could have used more spice and texture. Having expected this to be a “patty,” I was surprised to find it made as an empanada.

The drinks and food were delivered quickly, in no particular order. I thought there could have been a system of item delivery in place, although I’m sure they are trying to keep up with the volume to start. We were lucky to have our dishes spaced out enough to enjoy them while still warm, whereas the table next to us received all of their dishes at once.

Overall, I would recommend Elda as a quick easy bar to grab unique bites and cocktails when in the Mission. A fun spot to catch up and soak in the vibes.